Most recent market news

30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.02 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending May 18, 2017, down from last week when it averaged 4.05 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.58 percent.

15-year FRM this week averaged 3.27 percent with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.29 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 2.81 percent.

News from earlier this week

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate on Zillow Mortgages is currently 3.80 percent, down four basis points from this time last week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate inched higher last week before falling near current levels on Friday.

“Mortgage rates climbed to their highest levels since late March before dropping on the heels of weak inflation and retail sales data, which could push the Fed to delay expected rate hikes in the months ahead,” said Erin Lantz, vice president of mortgages at Zillow, in a statement. “Financial markets should be mostly quiet this week, with no major economic data scheduled for release.”

Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes rose two points in May to a level of 70 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).

This is the second highest HMI reading since the downturn.

“This report shows that builders’ optimism in the housing market is solidifying, even as they deal with higher building material costs and shortages of lots and labor,” said NAHB Chairman Granger MacDonald, a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas, in a news release.

“The HMI measure of future sales conditions reached its highest level since June 2005, a sign of growing consumer confidence in the new home market,” added NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz in the release. “Especially as existing home inventory remains tight, we can expect increased demand for new construction moving forward.”